Outrage Grows over Funeral Home That Refused Veteran’s Body Coffin over Insurance Issues

A photo of a Georgia veteran’s body displayed on a gurney during his visitation has sparked outrage online.

According to WTVC, the body of George Taylor was not put into a casket during his viewing at Heritage Funeral Home in Fort Oglethorpe. Taylor’s family says that the funeral home refused to put his body in a casket due to issues with his life insurance payment.

Instead, he was placed on a gurney with a flag draped over him and no pillow under his head. A shocking image taken during the visitation by a family member has gone viral and outraged thousands.

Warning: the photo below may be upsetting or disturbing.

The photo, shared by Facebook user Ella Moss, has been shared nearly 4,000 times. “This was how he was brought out,” Moss wrote. “I can only imagine the shock. We live in the greatest country in the world, and this is the best we can do for our soldiers.”

Taylor’s family says they agreed to have their father’s body placed on the gurney, but they had very little warning about the issue before the visitation began.

“They came to me and told me that unless that nine thousand dollars was paid, they couldn’t put him into the ground, he would have to sit in the freezer until we paid it or (until) the insurance came through,” Taylor told NewsChannel9.

The funeral home and Taylor’s family came to an agreement before George was laid to rest. The veteran was placed in a coffin before he was finally laid to rest respectfully.